"Across Europe, the AEJ brings together

individual journalists through their membership of national sections. As an independent and self-funding association we promote critical
journalism in the European integration process; and defend the freedom of information and freedom of the press in Europe.
The AEJ offers journalists the chance to be part of our professional and social network."

Focus on Media Freedom

The AEJ is an official Observer in the Council of Europe's Media Steering Committee.

The AEJ’s Media Freedom Representative, William Horsley, with other media and NGO organisations, has called on Member States to fulfil their 2009 pledge to ensure that national anti-terrorism laws are not misused to block legitimate freedom of expression.

The AEJ welcomes the focus on media freedom in the Decision by Ministers’ Deputies, but questions the failure to adopt more far-reaching measures to counter attacks on journalists’ lives and work.

On 24 July the Greek Foreign Minister Mr Nikos Kotzias took action to freeze the bank accounts of the publisher of the monthly Athens Review of Books (ARB) and impound the proceeds of the sales from its distribution company. The AEJ Greek section condemned the actions as unacceptable and issued the following press release:-

The French Section of the AEJ has vigorously protested against attempts by Polish state TV to pressure Dorota Bawolek, Brussels correspondent of the independent Polsat TV channel, over her questioning of the latest moves by the Polish government to take political control of the country’s judiciary…

The Association of European Journalists warmly welcomes the appointment of Harlem Désir, a former French minister for European Affairs and president of SOS Racisme, as the OSCE’s new Representative on Media Freedom. The decision was taken by consensus by the OSCE’s Ministerial Council on Tuesday, at the same times as the announcement of new appointments for the posts of OSCE Secretary-General, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

On the first anniversary of the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet, in Kiev, Index on Censorship joined Article 19, Association of European Journalists, Committee to Protect Journalists, European Federation of Journalists, International Federation of Journalists, International Press Institute and Reporters Sans Frontieres in urging the Ukrainian president to ensure an effective investigation of the crime. Read the full text of the letter here .